FOOTSTOOLS

Footrests

If you like watching TV or reading a good book or just want to enjoy a moment of relaxation on the couch, a footrest is a suitable accessory as it allows you to relax and stretch your legs, improving your comfort and well-being. Thanks to its modest dimensions, the footstool has become an indispensable addition to the living room furnishings: a fabric footstool next to a sofa or armchair, with matching or contrasting upholstery, gives style and character to the living space. A footrest can be an indispensable element, even if you spend a lot of time sitting at your desk at work. Poor posture can cause minor back problems in the long run: in this sense, office footrests provide adequate support to the lumbar region, improving posture and blood circulation and keeping your back straight.

Features and dimensions of the footrest

The footrest is a multi-faceted, very light, easy-to-move addition from one room to another, with a height of 30 to 50 cm. It usually consists of a base, most often of metal or wood, and a cushioned piece that can take many forms. As for the base, the four-arm metal footrests give a feeling of lightness and sophistication, while the elegant and minimalist toboggan footrests have unparalleled stability. Some footrests do not have a real base, but only have a structure inside the lining: in these cases we are usually talking about poufs. The padded element can take various forms: triangular, cubic, parallelepiped, round. It has an internal wooden structure. The soft lining is mainly made of polyurethane foam, polyester or similar materials and is covered with fabric or leather. The fabric is removable and washable, but also waterproof. Alternatively, some footrests have a resin or synthetic coating, others are padded with polystyrene or polyester microspheres. On the other hand, wooden footrests are unpadded, but very strong and durable over time.

How to choose the right footrest for your needs

A designer footrest is a universal object that, in addition to improving the physical well-being of people that use it can have many functions. For example, a container footrest is extremely useful if you need space to store magazines, rugs or other personal items. Upholstered footrests are indispensable when the number of guests in the house is greater than the capacity of your sofa: poufs can actually become, if necessary, very useful and soft additional seats and even support surfaces. For an elegant and sophisticated living room, the choice is a leather footstool with a wooden or metal base. A footstool can also be found in the bedroom, perhaps next to the armchair. There are also outdoor or pool footrests, covered with fabrics resistant to weather conditions and moisture. For the little ones, choose children's footrests instead, colorful and decorated with fun scenes and multi-colored symbols.

Improving the living environment? With a footstool you can

Apart from functionality, the choice of Ottoman takes into account purely aesthetic aspects. Having your own living room with a sofa or armchair combined with a footstool makes the environment more refined, elegant and refined. It is no coincidence that the most famous footstool in the history of design is always represented in combination with an armchair from the same series: we are talking about the OTTOMAN, the leather footstool by Charles Eames and the LOUNGE CHAIR armchair. This is why poufs are often covered in the same fabric as the sofa and armchairs to which they are attached. The bolder ones reach for fabrics in contrasting colors or with strong geometric patterns or with floral, striped, patterned motifs and more. If you mean a minimalist environment, then a monochrome or fabric-covered neutral colored footstool is for you.

Trivia and history of footstools

Footstools have been known for many years and have evolved over the centuries. Footrests were already known in ancient Egypt: they appeared in houses and temples in various forms and were used to support the feet. They were considered a family heirloom and were passed down from generation to generation. The footstool was revived in the 16th century, but it was also used for other purposes: it was a comfortable seat for children or a comfortable chair, and it was easy to carry. It was made of wood, but its design often differed depending on the intended use and the socio-economic position of the owner. In the 18th century, it was popular to place a low footrest in front of a fireplace long enough for all family members to put their feet up and warm them. Footstools made of wood or other traditional materials have always been everyday items from the 17th to the 19th centuries. In the first American homes, it was very valuable and took up a lot of space, even if the apartments were narrow. Today, a modern footstool combines tradition and innovation, decoration and functionality, and is present in almost every home. It combines warmth and practicality and provides the feet with a sufficient amount of rest.